Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Numbers
Book: Numbers
Chapter: 3
Overview:
The sons of
Aaron, The Levites taken instead of the
First-born.
(1-13) The Levites numbered
By their families, Their
duties.
(14-39) The
First-born are numbered.
(40-51)
1-13 There was much work belonging to the priests' office, and
there were now only
Aaron and his two sons to do it;
God
appoints the Levites to attend them. Those whom
God finds work
for, he will find help for. The Levites were taken instead of
the
First-born. When He that made us, saves us, as the
First-born of
Israel were saved, we are laid under further
obligations to serve him faithfully.
God's right to us
By
Redemption, confirms the right he has to us
By Creation.
14-39 The Levites were in three classes, according to the sons
of
Levi;
Gershon,
Kohath, and
Merari; and these were subdivided
into families. The posterity of
Moses were not at all honoured
or privileged, but stood upon the level with other Levites; thus
it was
Plain, that
Moses did not seek the advancement of his own
family, or to secure any honours to it. The
Tribe of
Levi was
By
much the least of all the tribes.
God's
Chosen are but a little
flock in comparison with the world.
40-51 The number of the
First-born, and that of the Levites,
came near to each other. Known unto
God are all his
Works
beforehand; there is an exact proportion between them, and
So it
will appear, when they are compared together. The small number
of
First-born, over and above the number of the Levites, were to
be redeemed, and the
Redemption-
Money given to
Aaron. The
Church
is called the
Church of the
First-born, which is redeemed, not
as they were, with
Silver and
Gold; but, being devoted
By Sin to
the
Justice of God, is ransomed with the precious
Blood of the
Son of God. All men are the
Lord's
By Creation, and all true
christians are his
By Redemption. Each should know his own
Post
and duty; nor can any service required
By such a Master be
rightly accounted mean or hard.